Chamber to host Workforce Summit Oct. 19

As a follow-up to the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s recent report Kentucky’s Workforce Challenges: The Employer Perspective, the Chamber will host the 2015 Kentucky Workforce Summit: Solutions for Economic Competitiveness on October 19 at the Hyatt Regency in Lexington. Sponsored by the Kentucky Education Workforce Development Cabinet, the summit will emphasize issues related to both supply (workforce training programs) and demand (workplace needs) by bringing together experts from industry and government to share insights and information.

“Creating a highly skilled workforce requires both strong public programs and leadership from the private sector,” said Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Dave Adkisson. “Public-private partnerships are essential to ensure that workforce programs get the right kind of information and deliver the training that employers need for high-quality performers on the job.”

The day-long summit will focus on what is happening right now in Kentucky — and what needs to happen going forward — to ensure workforce quality and improve the state’s economic position at home and around the globe. Specific areas to be addressed include: building a talent pipeline of workers, creating employer-led collaboratives to address specific workforce needs, using data to make good decisions about training and hiring, and developing programs that let people learn new skills while gaining on-the-job experience.

Keynote speakers will include Helen Parker, Ph.D., with the national workforce consulting firm of Maher & Mayer and David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation. To view a full agenda for the summit or to register, visit kychamber.com/events/workforce.